University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Tob Control. 2024 Jun 20;33(4):441-448. doi: 10.1136/tc-2022-057507.
It is unclear whether emerging synthetic tobacco-free nicotine superiority messages such as 'better flavor and better experience' and 'no residual impurities of tobacco-derived nicotine' may impact consumer perception and product choice between synthetic and tobacco-derived nicotine vaping products.
Through a 2022 online survey of current e-cigarette users, we identified synthetic nicotine never users for randomisation into an embedded between-subjects experiment. The test group (n=186) viewed a tobacco-free nicotine message versus no message control (n=168). Multivariable regressions assessed messaging effects on three comparative measures between tobacco-free and tobacco-derived nicotine: harm perception, purchase intention and willingness to pay.
Participants (n=354; age, mean (SD)=34.6 (11.1) years old) were recruited from geographically diverse regions with 27.7% rural residents. The overall sample comprised 44.1% females, 73.5% non-Hispanic white and 71.8% daily e-cigarette users. Sociodemographics and tobacco use status were not significantly different between two randomised groups. The test group (vs control) reported a higher intention to use tobacco-free than tobacco-derived nicotine vaping products (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.4, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.4, p=0.006) and willingness to pay more for tobacco-free nicotine vaping products (AOR=2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.8, p=0.02). Urban (vs rural) synthetic-naïve vapers had lower harm perception (AOR=2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6, p=0.02) and higher intention to use tobacco-free than tobacco-derived nicotine vaping products (AOR=2.2, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.5, p=0.04); infrequent vapers were more willing to pay more for tobacco-free nicotine vaping products (AOR=1.1, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.17, p=0.002).
Tobacco-free nicotine marketing message may prompt the transition to and promote a price premium for such products. With the proliferation of products in the market, comprehensive regulation of emerging synthetic vaping products is needed.
新兴的合成无烟草尼古丁产品的优越性信息，如“更好的口味和更好的体验”和“无烟草衍生尼古丁的残留杂质”，是否会影响消费者对合成尼古丁和烟草衍生尼古丁电子烟产品的认知和选择，目前还不清楚。
通过 2022 年对当前电子烟使用者的在线调查，我们确定了合成尼古丁的从未使用者进行随机分组，纳入一项嵌入式组间实验。实验组（n=186）观看了无烟草尼古丁信息与无信息对照组（n=168）。多变量回归评估了信息对三个无烟草和烟草衍生尼古丁比较措施的影响：危害感知、购买意向和支付意愿。
参与者（n=354；年龄，均值（SD）=34.6（11.1）岁）来自地理分布广泛的地区，其中 27.7%的居民居住在农村地区。总体样本中，44.1%为女性，73.5%为非西班牙裔白人，71.8%为每日电子烟使用者。两组随机分组的社会人口统计学和烟草使用状况无显著差异。实验组（与对照组相比）报告说，他们更倾向于使用无烟草而不是烟草衍生尼古丁的电子烟产品（调整后的比值比（OR）=2.4，95%置信区间 1.3 至 4.4，p=0.006），并且更愿意为无烟草尼古丁电子烟产品支付更多费用（调整后的 OR=2.6，95%置信区间 1.2 至 5.8，p=0.02）。城市（与农村）合成尼古丁新手使用者对危害的感知较低（调整后的 OR=2.0，95%置信区间 1.1 至 3.6，p=0.02），并且更倾向于使用无烟草而不是烟草衍生尼古丁的电子烟产品（调整后的 OR=2.2，95%置信区间 1.1 至 4.5，p=0.04）；使用频率较低的电子烟使用者更愿意为无烟草尼古丁电子烟产品支付更多费用（调整后的 OR=1.1，95%置信区间 1.03 至 1.17，p=0.002）。
无烟草尼古丁营销信息可能促使人们转向并为这些产品支付更高的价格。随着市场上产品的激增，需要对新兴的合成电子烟产品进行全面监管。
